Most normal cells recover quickly when chemotherapy is over, so most side effects like nausea, vomiting, hair loss and fatigue gradually disappear after treatment ends and the healthy cells have a chance to grow normally. How soon you will feel better depends on many factors, including your overall health and the kinds of drugs you have been taking. While many side effects go away rapidly, sometimes side effects on organs like your ovaries may take months or years to disappear completely.

Occasionally some side effects can last a lifetime. For example occasionally chemotherapy can cause permanent damage to the heart, lungs, kidneys or reproductive organs. And certain types of chemotherapy may occasionally cause delayed side effects, such as a second cancer that may show up years later.